Half to e



(No Model.) I

G. A. MOKENZIE.

GAME BOARD. No. 538,380. Patented A r; 30, 1895.

GEORGE A. MCKENZIE, OF WEST BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO E. J. KELTON, OF SAME PLACE.

GAME-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,380, dated April 30, 1895. Application filed March 31, 1894. fierial No. 505.928. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. MCKENZIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vest Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Game-Board, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of game boards which are composed of a series of folding sections, adapted to be extended when the board is used, or folded when not in use; and the invention lies in certain improvementsin the means for holding the sections, extended, and for permitting them to be folded when not in use.

This invention also consists of other improved features of construction, and combinationand arrangement of parts that will be more fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my board extended. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing it folded. Fig. 3-is a cross-section taken through the device when extended. Fig. 4. is a detail showing the construction of the cleats for holding the sections. Fig. 5 is a view showing the pocket or receptacle for the checkers. Fig. 6 is a detail of the device for joining the cleats aforesaid. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail showing the cleats and their rabbet grooves, the parts being shown upside down. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken through the securing clasp.

The reference numeral 1 indicates the several sections or slats composing my invention,which are constructed preferably of wood veneering and are of the same size and thickness. Glued or otherwise secured to one side of the slats 1 and extending over their entire surface is the sheet of cloth 2, which operates to hold the sections 1 in adjustment and to allow them to be folded at will. Upon this sheet 2 the checker board 16 is painted or otherwise formed, andadapted to be used as such when the sections are extended.

Secured to each of the end slats of the board and embracing the entire surface thereof are the cleats 3, which are U-shaped in Cross-sections, and which cover the outer edge as well as the sides of the slats aforesaid. The horizontal portion of the cleats 3 are arranged, on the under side of the board, in the rabbet grooves 4, so that they will lieflush with the surface of the remaining slats, while the opposite side of the cleat lies upon the regular surface of the slats, and is, therefore,raised above the general surface of the board. The cleats 3, are preferably constructed of metal and will be in practice, about one-thirtieth of an inch in thickness.

5 and 6 indicate the cleats for holding the slats extended, and these cleats are four in number, two designated 5, and two 6, and pivoted one to each end of the endslats. These cleats are of the same length and one is slightly smaller in cross-section than the other, and adapted to fit into the other when joined. Formed in each of the ends of the slats 1 are the notches 7, which are in horizontal alignment, and which form a continuous rabbet groove in which thelower sides of the cleats 5 and 6 are adapted to lie, while the upper sides of the cleats are adapted to lie above the corresponding surface of the slats 1.

The cleats 5 and 6, are secured to the ends of the cleats 3, by means of the swinging links 8, which are two in number, one for each side, and are joined to their respective parts by means of the rivets 9, passing through them. By this means the cleats 5 and 6 may beswung on their links 8 so that they will lie approximately parallel with the end slats, or parallel with the line of ends of all the slats.

When the cleats 5 and 6 are located in the rabbet grooves 7, they are operated to hold the parts extended and when so arranged it will be necessary to removably secure them to each other. This is effected by means of the clasp or fastening device 10, which consists of a U-shaped cleat adapted to embrace the two cleats 5 and 6, and to be secured to the smaller cleat of each pair, 5 and 6, by means of the headed pin 11, which pin is rigidly secured to said smaller cleat and passes through the longitudinally elongated slot 12 in the clasp 10. By this means, the cleat having the clasp 10 applied may be swung into place in the rabbet groove 7, and the companion cleat placed upon it. The clasp 10 may be then moved longitudinally so as to pass over the larger cleat, and thereby secure it to the smaller and the two in rigid adj ustment. When it is desired to fold the board the clasp 10 is moved back, so as to release the larger cleat, and they may then be swung back to lie parallel with the slats 1.

A pocket for holding the checkers is shown in detail by Fig. 5, and consists of two parallel side sections 13 capable of swinging toward and over each other, and of the two end pieces 14, which are also capable of swinging toward each other and over the folded side sections, they being secured to the said side sections by a tongue 15, fitting in the eye 16 formed on one of the side sections. By this construction the sections may be extended and securely held so, thus making it possible to play checkers on the board 16, or to reverse the board and use it for playing cards or any other game.

Owing to the countersinking of the cleats 3, 5 and 6 on the under side of the board, the surface thereof is left flush and unbroken, so that the cards may be easily handled and withdrawn after being dealt, while on the checker board side of the cleats the cloth 2 will lie flush with cleats and make an even surface there also.

To fold the board, as in Fig. 2, the clasp 10, is released and the cleats 5 and 6 swung back so that they will lie approximately parallel with the slats, whereupon the slats may be rolled or folded to suit the size and form of the space in which it is desired to arrange the device, as shown in Fig. 2.

The checker pocket is used for securing the checkers when the board is folded, and this will be understood from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A game board composed of a series of sections connected to each other and capable of being extended or folded at will, a cleat secured to each end section and capable of swinging across the ends of the sections and toward each other, so as to engage said ends, and a clasp for securing the ends of the cleats to each other, the cleats being capable, upon releasing the clasp, of swinging parallel with the sections and permitting the whole to be folded, substantially as described.

2. A game board composed of a series of sections joined to each other and capable of being extended or folded at will, a cleat hinged to each end of the end sections and respectively adapted to engage with the ends of all the sections whereby they are held extended, and a clasp for removably joining the respective ends of each pair of cleats, the cleats being capable, upon releasing the clasps, of swinging parallel with the sections and thus permitting the whole to be folded, substantially as described.

3. A game board composed of a series of sections connected to each other and capable of being extended. or folded at will, a cleat hinged to each end section and adapted to be engaged with the ends of said sections whereby they are held extended, the end of one cleat being adapted to lie under the end of the remaining cleat, and a clasp on the under cleat, and capable of longitudinal movement thereon, whereby it may be moved to hold the cleats together or allow them to separate,

the cleats being capable of swinging to lie parallel with the sections of the board, whereby the Whole may be folded, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. MCKENZIE.

Witnesses:

H. S. LEWIS, D. MCKENZIE. 

